Research is, in the end, borrowing or reusing ideas for a different end goal. So, when perusing the dusty halls of human experience, remember to bring your notebook.
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My Other Job
In a society that so values monetary success, understand that the immediate lack thereof is not a sign of failure, nor is it a symptom of bad writing or flawed ideas, though that’s an easy go-to excuse.
Minecraft Apocalypse
As a writer, not all of our ideas can metamorphose into a fully-fledged piece of expression, and it’s important not to invest too much energy into the ones that aren’t working.
There is a Singularity: go Viral or go home
So, trying to will your book into viral popularity is like the guy I saw driving down the freeway with a mattress strapped to the top of his car and one hand out the window, as if he could stop a freakin’ mattress (read: fluffy, spring-loaded SAIL) from flying off his car.
Processing Processes
According to me, there are at least 100,000 known writing strategies. Maybe even more (and that’s why we shouldn’t destroy the rain forest). Working at a college writing center has really opened up my eyes to all sorts of writing processes that professors recommend, and even though most of them have nonfiction, academic papers in mind, I think that we creative folks can glean something from their recommendations. The particular process I have in mind is called the Madman, Architect, Carpenter, Judge, brought to you by Betty S. Flowers, and…
What music do you listen to when…
When the time comes to edit, and I have to pour over my manuscript with an eye for the minutiae, I need music that keeps me from throwing my keyboard or getting in such a bad mood I start needlessly deleting content. This music is always Rachmaninoff, because Russians are really good at doing “sad” and hearing Sergei’s “sad” makes me feel a little better about editing.
Snow Day Writing
It’s snowing again in Northern Virginia. There’s not much accumulation, mind you, but a friend of mine pointed out how oddly we Northern Virginians react to snow. As he says, we know that it’s going to snow every year, and yet it still manages to catch us off guard.
Review of Glen Cook’s BLACK COMPANY
This book moves. It’s unapologetically fast, and there’s momentum in every scene. If you like that sort of thing, you’ll probably enjoy THE BLACK COMPANY by Glen Cook. So, for whatever reason my most recent post replaced this one… Anyway, you can still find the review below. Firstly, this is a military fantasy novel that details the lives of the titular mercenary group in the epic struggle of good vs. evil. Except… the Black Company signs on with the bad guys rather than the good guys (apparently, Evil offers a…
Observe, Experience, Write!
Writers observe everything. But Zachary, you might contend, doesn’t everyone see everything? Ah, nope. It’s the difference between hearing music and listening to music. One requires active participation, and one does not. Writers are human-shaped sponges, absorbing experience, digesting it, and turning it into meaningful prose. Just try it. Step back from a group conversation when it’s not your turn to talk and listen with your eyes. What are people saying? How are they saying it? Do their faces and body-language agree? When you’re driving to work, what are the trees saying, what is the…